Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday announced financial assistance and relief packages to families affected by Cyclone Fani. All families covered under the National Food Security Act in Puri and Khurda administrative division, who have been severely affected, will get 50 kg of rice, Rs 2,000 and polythene sheets, reported Scroll.in
Naveen has announced that people will receive one month of additional pension and house building assistance. Houses, that have been completely damaged will be constructed under housing schemes, the report said quoting ANI.
“Loss of agricultural, horticultural crops, animal resources and fisheries will be assessed and compensated accordingly,” he said. After the relief and restoration work is complete, trees will be planted “in mission mode”, the chief minister said.
According to the Special Relief Commissioner, Bishnupada Sethi, over 30 lakh electricity consumers in Odisha have been affected by the cyclone. He said power will be restored to around 10 lakh consumers by Monday.
“It will take at least five to seven days to restore normalcy in power supply in Bhubaneswar,” Energy Secretary Hemanta Sharma said. “However, it may take a bit longer for Puri where the devastation to power structures is maximum,” said the report.
Water and Telecommunication
The state government has also initiated measures to restore drinking water supply in Bhubaneswar. Power supply to pumping stations at Palasuni and Bhuasuni was snapped after the cyclone hit the state. These two stations provide 40% of Bhubaneswar’s drinking water needs. Experts have been called in from Kolkata to assist in the efforts to restore water supply, said the report.
Meanwhile, PTI has reported that telecom firms in the state have been carrying out major restoration work. Public sector Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd’s telephone exchange at Puri has been made operational. Airtel, Vodafone and Reliance Jio have made 932 base stations for mobile communication operational, the agency said citing sources. In West Bengal, work on 206 base stations is pending.
